Clean Diesel

VW Settles Civil Claims for 3.0L Diesels

February 1, 2017
• by Staff

Photo of 2014 Audi A3 Sportback TDI courtesy of VW.

Volkswagen has agreed to pay $1.2 billion to buyers of vehicles powered by its 3.0L V-6 diesel engine that violated emissions regulations in a settlement that must receive a blessing from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and a federal judge.

Volkswagen could end up paying as much as $4 billion depending on whether Volkswagen will need to buy back approximately 78,000 vehicles powered by the engines, according to the commission. The company has been given the option to repair them. Owners of the affected vehicles are set to receive $26,000 to $58,000 per vehicle depending on the model, mileage, and trim.

The move would resolve class-action lawsuits against the company.

In December, Volkswagen reached a settlement with regulators on the 3.0L engines that would require the automaker to pay $225 million toward emissions reduction and $25 million to support the use of zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) in California.

Vehicles covered by the 3.0L settlement include 2009 to 2016 model-year Touareg, 2009- to 2015-MY Audi Q7 and 2013- to 2016-MY Porsche Cayenne Diesel. Other models include 2014-MY, 2015-MY, and 2016-MY Audi models including the A6, A7, A8, A8L, and Q5.

Legislation

Clean Diesel

Volkswagen has gained approval from air regulators of the final modification plan for the remaining vehicles that contain software designed to defeat emissions tests, the California Air Resources Board has announced.

Volkswagen has appointed Matthias Muller, the chairman of Porsche AG, as its new chief executive to replace the departed Martin Winterkorn, and will restructure its North American operations in the wake of a scandal over diesel emissions.

Volkswagen's chief executive said the company is "deeply sorry" and plans to fully cooperate with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in its investigation of the automaker's use of software to get around federal emissions regulations.

The European Commission will require “real world” vehicle emission tests beginning in 2017. Emissions approval for passenger cars in Europe will then include mandatory on-the-road tests using a portable emissions measurement system.